AUSTIN, TEXAS — Pet Honesty has expanded its dual-texture cat supplement portfolio with the addition of two new formulas: Probiotics Gut + Immune Health and Skin + Coat Health. Both new products adhere to the company’s product pledge, which promises recipes built around natural ingredients, free from corn, wheat or soy, and made without artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.

“We’ve had tremendous success and reception with the first five cat supplements that we launched, and these were two additional need states where we felt that we could really help improve cats’ lives by supporting gut health and enhancing the immune system and, of course, skin and coat health,” said Greg Reinhart, Ph.D., vice president of research and development at Pet Honesty, in an exclusive interview with Pet Food Processing.

While Pet Honesty is known most for its dog supplements, the company continues to bolster its cat offerings as it seeks to become a leader across the supplement category. According to the company, palatability studies showed nine out of 10 cats accepted the new supplements, which feature a crunchy shell with a creamy, savory filling.

“Our Cat Probiotics Gut + Immune Health and Cat Skin + Coat Health supplements cater to cat owners’ desire for the best for their feline companions,” Reinhart said. “These innovative products promise an unparalleled combination of taste, texture and effectiveness, enhancing the lives of cats and their owners.”

The Probiotics Gut + Immune Health features prebiotic fructooligosaccharides to feed good bacteria in the gut, probiotic Bacillus subtilis to balance the microbiome, and postbiotic Beta glucan to support the immune system and keep gut health in check.

“Bacillus subtilis goes into the intestinal tract and proliferates and keeps a healthy microflora in place, and also ensures there’s a vibrant, healthy bacterial population,” Reinhart said. “It also keeps some of the bad players from getting a foothold.”

The formula also includes Omega 3 fatty acids for anti-inflammatory benefits.

“With this particular supplement, we really surrounded the cat’s intestinal tract with things that will help keep it healthy,” Reinhart explained. “…The largest immunological organ in the body is the skin, followed by the intestinal tracts. There’s a lot of stuff going on down there, and this supplement really aims to keep the intestinal tract in a healthy state and build resistance to bad things happening.”

Speaking of skin health, Pet Honesty’s Skin + Coat Health supplement is formulated with essential fatty acids, including Omega 3s, as well as vitamins C and E, zinc, and biotin to support healthy skin and a glossy coat. According to Reinhart, Omega 3s in the formula can help balance natural levels of Omega 6 fatty acids in a cat’s body, which, in excess, can be a cause of skin inflammation. Omega 3 also contributes to a shiny coat.

“Dogs, cats and us humans have an excess of Omega 6s,” Reinhart explained. “Omega 6s are essential, but when they’re metabolized, they produce pro-inflammatory metabolites… Too much of a good thing can actually be bad. That’s where Omega 3s come in to keep unnecessary inflammation from getting out of control.”

Vitamin E also has anti-inflammatory benefits and can help support the immune system, Reinhart added.

“With the gut and with the skin, it’s really important that these supplements be matched with high quality diets as well,” he added. “You don’t want to take a really poor quality diet and try and put a Band-Aid on it — the best way to start is with a high quality diet, then add supplements like these to it.”

The new Probiotic Gut + Immune Health and Skin + Coat Health supplements for cats build on Pet Honesty’s existing feline portfolio, which originally launched in late 2022. The first three formulas in the line were Hairball Support, Calming, and Hip + Joint Health. Multivitamin and Immune Support Lysine were later added. According to Reinhart, this puts Pet Honesty in a strong position to meet most major need states requested by today’s cat owners.

“It all goes back to two things — having the right active ingredients that can improve the life of the cat that’s going to receive them, and having them in a format that a cat will actually consume at the quantities that will have a benefit,” he said. “This format has been very well-received by both pet parents and, more importantly, by cats themselves.”

Read more about new pet food and treat products.